Bless you Mica!  
 
Cool pics - makes me yearn to have another Chicago Gathering.

Thanks Mica!  Very cool guitar.

  Harry  & Sam play some great Bass!

 
Bill & Matt  give us some  sweet vintage Alembic tones .

I see that 75-149, which was up for auction a few weeks back, made it into the hands of a Club member!... Congrats!

Awesome pic's!  Thanks!  
 
And needless to say, what a great time it was!  
 
Kimberly  

Kimberly, it was great to meet you and especially to get to hear you play! Everyone was just standing around with their jaws on the floor! I'm sorry we didn't get more time to talk - you'll have to come back next time!

After a significantly long delay at the airport, I finally made it back home.
 
Donald, I can't get to your facebook page, though Art says he didn't have a problem; perhaps it isn't public, Art is a facebook member but I'm not.

One interesting thing about the room with all of the instruments in it; it's like standing in front of a shrine.  When you see one Alembic, it's a work of art that you enjoy looking at closely.  When you see over 40 in front of you at once, it is literally awe inspiring.

Hello Dave , it was really cool to have meet you in person. I had the same experience with Donald's facebook link as I am not a member as well. I did have success with Donald's flickr account;
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasewark/sets/72157626526481416/with/5632405734/
 
      Donald ,it was nice you meet you as well .   Thanks . You took some great pics !

Thanks Sonicus. I was just going to post that link.

Wolf, it was great to finally meet you as well! I had a really great time. Great group of people.
 

But the true joy was the people.  I didn't get to talk with everyone who was there, but the exchanges of smiles and the feeling of family with everyone there was wonderful.  It felt so good being there; and I think that is a reflection of our community here.
 
Another note I wanted to mention.  A number of people put a lot of work into this event; and of course many of those who attended put a lot of work into packing up their instruments and loading up their rigs, the kind of work that goes into doing gigs as musicians.  But as I was with her from Friday evening on, it became apparent to me that Mica had indeed put a lot of work into this gathering.  And I now know firsthand that she is indefatigable.  The direction signs that she made and tied to the trees up to the site, the little stickers and other details that she finished up late Friday night, the huge amount of food that she bought, set out, and attended to all day, all of the instruments that she loaded up from the shop.  Thank you Mica!!!  And thank you again to all who attended!
 
Oh; and the music!  Wow!  And there was no cover charge!

Thanks for the Flickr link Wolf; looking at them now.
 
Which reminds me, one of the unexpected highlights of the day was Wolf's trumpet playing!  I can't remember what the tune was now, but it was a really cool jam; Wolf went out to his car and came back in with his trumpet and perfectly added to the tune!  Very cool moment.  There was a lot of very good music on Saturday.

Thanks Dave,I took that Trumpet with me at the last moment when I realized my car was just about packed full . The jam at the time felt right for me to play a spontaneous Trumpet part. I love spontaneous moments in musical improvisation ,  I had lots of fun .